TWO women and their young children could have died after consuming instant mashed potato and tea made with a kettle where ecstasy had been hidden.

And a court was told that Jeffrey Farquhar, 20, had been "stupid almost beyond belief" for his part in the incident.

Blackburn magistrates heard that all the victims, including two four-year-old boys and a woman who was eight months pregnant, needed hospital treatment.

And one of the boys, Nathan, was rushed to Manchester Children's Hospital at Pendlebury where he was detained for three days.

Farquhar, 29, of Queen Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to possession of ecstasy and possession of cannabis. The magistrates ruled that their powers of punishment were insufficient because of "the degree of negligence" and Farquhar was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court to be sentenced.

Pat Bramley, prosecuting, said Farquhar's behaviour could almost be described as "criminal stupidity."

She told the court that his partner Patricia Wilson, her four-year-old son Leon, her twin sister Joanne Wilson and her son Nathan had gone back to the address in Queen Street around tea-time on November 27.

She said Joanne Wilson half-filled the kettle and made a cup of tea for them all. She then used the water to mix some instant mash potato to go with the children's tea.

"Most of them drank their tea but Joanne commented that it tasted strange," said Ms Bramley.

Shortly after they had eaten the meal the women noticed that the children, especially Nathan, began acting strangely, she said.

"He was biting his lips and fingers and walking as if he had some kind of impediment," said Ms Bramley. "Nathan went to sit next to his mother on the settee but instead fell on the floor."

His mother noticed that his eyes were rolling from side to side and screamed that he had taken something. Farquhar jumped up and ran into the kitchen shouting: "The pills were in the kettle."

He then ran outside to a phone box and called for the ambulance. All four were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary but Nathan had to transferred to the children's hospital for specialist treatment.

"He was in a serious but stable condition and had to be given sedatives because of the effect the drug was having on him," said Ms Bramley. "I am told he has made a full recovery but he was in hospital for at least three days."

Ms Bramley said that when interviewed by police Farquhar refused to give details of how many tablets had been in the kettle even though the information could have helped the medical staff.

All four people had MDMA in their systems but Nathan had by far the highest level. A toxicology report said: "Some individuals may have adverse reactions to MDMA and fatalities have been reported involving the ingestion of a small amount as little as one tablet. Children may be more susceptible."

Kevin Preston, defending, said his client admitted being a user of cannabis and an occasional, recreational user of ecstasy.

He lives with his partner and Leon, and their baby, who had been born since the incident.

"He was very careful to put his drugs out of harm's way," said Mr Preston. "In most households that might not be the kettle but in his partner's statement she says she can't remember the last time she made a brew and they had to send out for tea bags on this occasion." It had been an accident reflected by the charge of simple possession.